Snapshot: As if the Bonham isn't wild and wacky enough normally, the downtown bar - housed in a creepy old building that could pass for a haunted mansion - gets downright wicked for Halloween. Skeletons, goblins and ghosts hang from the rafters. A stage upstairs has been transformed into a graveyard, complete with coffin and corpse. However, the scariest of sights may be the patrons themselves, who are encouraged to show up in costume tonight and Saturday. A contest honoring the best happens at midnight on both days. However, Saturday's competition will have a theme - Halloween Is Such a Drag - meaning men are urged to dress as women and women as men. The reward: up to $3,000 in cash and prizes. Holiday drink specials also abound to further drive you batty.

Who goes there: Patrons tend to be younger; in their 20s to mid-30s. It was conceived as a gay club in 1981 by the Bonham's founder, the late Hap Veltman, and is a popular hangout for gays and lesbians. However, straight singles and couples love it, too; it's considered one of the best dance clubs in San Antonio. Minors (18 and older) also are admitted, but are stamped with a big "M" to indicate alcohol is off-limits. They're also required to pay a $20 cover charge, while adults only need to pay $5 after 10 p.m. and nada before that hour. Dress, even on regular nights, can be on the risqué side.

Behind the bar: Several indoor bars serve beer and just about any cocktail your heart desires (or shots of your favorite tequila or whiskey) for reasonable prices. On Halloween eve and night until 11, you can get any drink in the house for $3 and less.

Munchies: Manager Lee Haines stresses that patrons should drink responsibly. Helping them to stay driver-safe is a relatively new catering service - City in the Valley - which serves up freshly grilled hamburgers and other hearty snacks in the club's patio. My husband and I tried the chicken quesadillas; they were crispy and melt-in-your-mouth fine.

Fun and games: Music videos are there to watch, male go-go dancers there to ogle. The club also boasts two of the roomier dance floors in town. If you need to take a break from the noise, the patio features quiet and lots of rustic seating and picnic tables.

Soundtrack: A KTFM disc jockey will broadcast the goings-on live into the wee hours Saturday. The sounds range from dance tunes to R&B to Latin to hip-hop to techno-sound.

The skinny: If you're after Halloween-themed nights this weekend, there's no bar that can equal the Bonham for crazy fun and outrageous costumes. To avoid waiting in predicted long lines, arrive early - just after 8 p.m.